Collapsible corkscrew



pct. 11, 1927. ,936

P. MERTENS COLLAPSIBLE CORKSCREW Filed March 2. 1926 l 7 .f I R INVENTOWW I ATTORNEY5,

Patented get. 11, i927.

UNZTED STATES PAUL MERTENS, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

COLLA'PSIBLE CORK-SCREW.

Application filed March 2, 1928.

This invention relates in general to corkscrews and more particularly toa corkscrew in which the handle is collapsible both to protect thespiral bit of the device and to reduce the size of the device when it isnot in use. 7

One object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved construcion and combination of a corkscrew of the character described whichcomprises a handle having two sections which swing toward and from eachother upon opposite sides of the bit whereby the bit may be disposedbetween the handle port-ions and prevented from catching exteriorobjects, and the device occupy a minimum of space when not in use, thehandle portions being adapted to be swung outwardly at angles to the bitfor operating the latter in removing a cork or the like.

Another object is to provide in such a device novel and improved meansfor autoinatically centering the bit between the handle portions andigidly hold it with re lation to the handle when the cor screw is beingused.

Other objects are to provide a construct-ion whereby a corkscrew can becombined with scissors or the like, so that the same handles serve foroperating the scissors and the corkscrew and protect the bit of thecorkscrew when the scissors are closed, the construction also permittinguse of the scissors without any interference or inconvenience from thebit of the corkscrew; to provide a novel and improved construction andcombination of stops upon the corkscrew bit and the handle portions forrigidly centering the bit between the handle portions when the corkscrewis being used; to provide a device of this character which is simple andinexpensive in construction, and to obtain other results and advantagesas may be brought out by the following description. For the purpose ofillustrating the prin ciples of the invention 1 have shown in theaccompanying drawings the collapsible corkscrew combined with scissors,but itwill be understood that the scissors blades could be eliminatedand the handle portion-s modified and the corkscrew combined with otherdevices than scissors, without departing from the spirit or scope of theinvention,

Referring to said drawings, in which corresponding and like parts aredesignated throughout the several views by the same referencecharacters,

Serial No. 91,827

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a combined scissors and corkscrewembodying the invention, showing the corkscrew and scissors in closed orcollapsed position;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device showing the handle portionsextended for operating the corkscrew; I y I Figure 8 is a view similarto Figure 2. showing the reverse side of the device: 4

Figure 4; is a transverse vertical sectional view, taken on the line 4lof Figure 2; Figure 5 is a detached perspective view of the corkscrewbit and the yoke for connecting it to the handle portions, and v Figure6 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the handle portions.

Specifically describing the illustrated embodiment of the invention, thereference characters 1 designate two identically shaped sectionspivotally connected intermediate their ends as at 2, each section havingone end portion in the form of a handle Stand the other end in theformof a shearing blade 4, the blades l cooperating as scissors andbeing operated by the corresponding handle portions 3. i

The handle portions 8 are adapted to move toward and from each otherabout the pivot 2 in the same plane, and their adjacent faces are cutaway or recessed as at 5 to provide a space. fora corkscrew bit 6 whichhas at one end a U-shapcd yoke 7 whichreceives between its arms thesections 1 indie pivotally mounted upon the pivot 2. The eX- tremitiesof the arms of the yoke I? are arouately curved as at 8 concentricallywith the pivot 2, andthe sections 1 are each formed with a rib 9 whichhasone face 10 concern trio with the ends 8. The ribs 9 terminate inshoulders 11 adapted to cooperatively engage shoulders 12 at the endsofthe arouate end portions 8 of the yoke when the handle portions 3 areswung away from each other, as illustrated in Figures 2 and 8. l v hileit is necessary that only one shoulder 11 be provided upon each section1 and one shoulder 12 upon each of the arms of the yoke 7, it ispreferable that two of the shoulders l1 and 12 be provided upon each ofthe sections 1 and arms of the yoke, respectively, as illustrated, sinceit is thus possible to make the sections 1 substantially identical witheach other and to apply the yoke 7 to the sections 1 with either arm ofthe yoke in contact with either section 1, thereby ensuring a minimum ofcost of manufacture.

Ill)

In the operation of the device, when it is desired to use the corkscrew,the handle portions 3 are swung apart, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, oneof the shoulders 11 upon each of the sections 1 engaging one of theshoulders 12 upon one of the arms of the yoke 7 so that the corkscrewbit 6 is automatically centered between the handle portions and rigidlyheld with respect to the handle pertime. ordinary manner by oscillationof the handle portions and this operation is in no way interfered withor otherwise afiected by the presence of the corkscrew bit 6. In fact,the position of the bit 6 between the handle portions preventsaccidental contact of the hands of the user or exterior objects with thebit, and when the handle portions are swung together the bit 6 iseffectively enclosed, as shown in Figure 1. For limiting movement of thehandle portions toward each other, lugs or projections 13 may be formedon the adjacent faces of the handle portions.

The pivot 2 is preferably in the form of a screw andpasses throughopenings in the arms of the yoke and in the sections 1, the screw beingthreaded into one of the arms of the yoke so that the said yoke servesin the nature of a washer which efiiectively holds the sections 1 insnug operating engagement with each other as is desirable for effectiveoperation of the shearing blades 4.

Itwill be obvious that the shearing blades might be wholly omitted andthe handle portions 3 modifiedas desired the essential feature of theinvention being the combination of the corkscrew bit and'the handleportions connected thereto so as to be collapsible upon opposite sidesof the bit or capable of be ing swung at an angle to the bit foroperating the same.

Having thus described the invention, What I claim is:

1. A device of the character described comprising a pair of handleportions pivotally connected to swing toward and from each other, a bithaving a U-shaped yoke at one end to receive said pivotally connectedends The device is used as scissors in the dle portions are swung apartto center and rigidly hold said portions.

2. A device of the character described comprising a pair of handleportions pivotally connected to swing toward and from each other, a bithaving a U-shaped yoke at bit between said handle one end to receivesaid pivotally connected ends of said handle portions between its arms,said yoke being pivotally mounted up on the same pivot as said handleportions to arrange said bit between said handle portions and having theends of its arms arcuately curved concentrically with said pivot andformed with shoulders at the ends of said curved portions, said handleportions having transverse ribs formed with arcuate faces concentricwith said ends of the arms of sald yoke and terminating in shoulders toautomatically cooperatively engage said shoulders on said yoke as saidhandle portions are swung apart to center and rigidly hold said bitbetween said handle portions.

3. A device of the character described comprising a pair of handleportions pivotally connected to swing toward and from each other, a bitpivotally mounted upon the pivot of said handle portions and arrangedbetween them, said bit having its pivoted end arcuately curvedconcentrically with said pivot and formed with shoulders at the ends ofsaid curved portion, said handle portions having shoulders toautomatically cooperatively engage said shoulders on the bit as saidhandle portions are swung apart to center and rigidly hold said bitbetween said handle portions.

PAUL MERTENS.

